Benzophenones from the roots of the Popoluca Amerindian medicinal plant Securidaca diversifolia (L.) S.F. Blake

Three novel benzophenones (1-3) were obtained from the roots of Securidaca diversifolia (L.) S.F. Blake along with two known benzylbenzoates and isovanilline. Compound 2 (2,4-dihydroxy-3,3′-dimethoxy-benzophenone) showed moderate inhibitory activity on Herpes simplex virus type 1 proliferation in vitro. The structures of compounds 1-3 were established by the interpretation of their spectroscopic and spectrometric data.